At Arm's Length

by Amber Nation

  I leaned down and pressed my forehead against hers, never once breaking eye contact. “That’s what makes us so great together. We each have our own set of attributes that we excel at, but when you put us together, we are that much more powerful. By being together, we are that much stronger.”

  She blinked and a single tear cascaded down her cheek. “Say it again, Marlee.”

  She knew what I meant and immediately filled my heart again with her words. “I love you, Holden.”

  “God, Marlee, I love you so much.” I lifted my head just enough to brush my lips across her forehead. With my lips on her skin, she leaned into my kiss and sighed. I backed away long enough to turn on one of the faucets in the corner, leaving it to allow the water to warm up. As I casually strode back to where Marlee was standing, there was one question that I had to ask her. “So, the Hulk, huh?”

  She tipped her head back and laughed. “I came up with that one on the fly. I’m running out of people who are known for only having one name.”

  “Nope, I’m not buying it. You have a thing for the Hulk.” I was going to exploit her secret obsession she harbored for mythical characters; it may take time, but it would happen. And finally, we had all the time in the world.

  “I don’t have a thing for the Hulk, I have a thing for The Beast.”

  My eyes flared, and I growled from deep within my chest. Fuck yeah! I swung her around and stalked forward so she’d have no other choice but to back up. I walked her until her back was flush with the tiled walls of the shower. I grabbed her shirt and bunched the material in my hands, ripping it open, exposing her black lace bra and her creamy skin underneath. She gasped as her eyes danced with excitement and I faintly heard the buttons scatter along the shower floor.

  My pixie loved The Beast.

  “Holden,” she breathed. Even when we were old and gray, I would never grow tired of hearing the breathless way she spoke my name. Each time was filled with wonder and amazement. As if she was incredulous that I was actually hers, when in fact, it should be the other way around. I loved the way she viewed me, always with open eyes and never with any judgment. I was beginning to see myself the way she did, so whenever I experienced a moment of self-doubt, all I needed to focus on was the fact that I had an amazing woman who always saw me for my true worth. I didn’t know what I’d done in my lifetime to deserve this woman, but I was glad that I had her, and that wasn’t something I would ever take for granted.

  I took her shirt off the rest of the way and tossed it behind me, not giving the slightest shit as to where it landed. Next, I slipped my hands behind her back and unclasped her bra before repeating the same steps as before.

  “Hurry, Holden,” she said impatiently, her voice filled with desire. Always unwilling to wait, this one. These things took time and deserved to be savored.

  It had been too long since I had seen all of her, and once her bra fell away, my rapt attention was brought to her bare breasts.

  My cock leaked with precum at the first sight of her hardened nipples, and I could vividly remember how sensitive the buds were in the most responsive way. Even though I was hasty to rid myself of my pants and the remainder of my pads, it felt like the process took forever. Not that I was complaining because the entire time Marlee was running her tongue up along the lines of my abdomen and across my chest at a deliciously but agonizingly slow pace. Every so often, she would switch off between using her lips to place chaste kisses and her teeth to make little nips along my skin. The combination was mind-blowing, but that along with the fact that I hadn’t been inside her in almost four months to the day, had me beginning to feel a bit of that impatience as well.

  “Take off your skirt, Marlee,” I demanded. It was the next to last barrier between the two of us, and if she wanted it to remain intact, then she needed to take it off and fast.

  With quick fingers, she worked at the clasp on the side and then the zipper. She wiggled her sexy as fuck hips as she shimmied the skirt down her legs until it laid in a sopping heap at her feet.

  Again her panties matched her bra with the same black lace. “Who do you wear these expensive panties for?”

  She stammered her words, “I…wear them because they make me feel sexy.”

  “They also make you look sexy as hell. You are fucking beautiful.”

  A blush crept up her cheeks as the first glint of her glistening bare pussy caught my attention. That was new and oh so fucking appreciated. The perfect scene before me would be enough to bring any man to his knees.

  I pressed her up against the tiled wall and ran a feather-light touch across her stomach. She shivered at my touch, and I knew it wasn’t due to the chill, but rather the anticipation of what was to come.

  I ran my palms down her back and hoisted her up by her ass. “Hold on, sweetheart.”

  “Always, Holden.” She wrapped her legs around my waist instantly complying. I put my hand around my straining erection and aligned myself up at her entrance. But before I made any move to enter her, we locked eyes once again.

  “I love you, Marlee Tate.”

  “And I love you, Holden Reed.” Her expression softened, but then the little minx moved to rub her slick core along the tip of my cock. “Look how ready I am for you, baby. Don’t you want to feel me?”

  Holy fucking shit. There was nothing hotter than Marlee talking dirty. I could’ve come right then and there, but I fought the urge because a greater outcome was right over the horizon. I blinked, surprised at the words that came out of her mouth. But, then again, that was my pixie, surprising me at every turn. I didn’t leave any room for further words as I slammed myself to the hilt into her heat. Instantly her pussy gripped me like a vice, and I groaned with desire.

  Pure heaven.

  Leaning into her neck, I had to take a moment to regain my composure. Also to commit the way she felt to memory. I thought I remembered everything, even the smallest detail when it came to Marlee, but nothing came close to comparing to the real thing. I kissed the skin along the curve of her neck, then brought my lips to the shell of her ear. “You feel amazing, pixie.”

  I began sliding my cock in and out of her at a fevered pace, knowing that it wouldn’t take either of us long to achieve our impending orgasms. I decided that this time would be fast, just enough to take the edge off and curb our appetites until we could take things to a more private setting.

  After she tipped over the edge, I came just seconds after her. Our labored breaths were mingling together, and I waited until our heartbeats slowed down before I made any move to lower her. She unlocked her legs, and I placed her on the floor. Marlee had her lips drawn up in a dazed but sated smile, and I knew without looking that hers mirrored my own.

  I held open a clean towel and wrapped it around her body, taking my time and making sure that I caressed every inch that I possibly could’ve missed earlier. I didn’t need any jealousy that one part of her skin got more attention than any other. We walked hand in hand toward my locker, but before we reached the alcove, I yanked her back into me. “So what do you think about football now, sweetheart?”

  I had remembered before she thought the sport was barbaric, so I was anxious to see what she thought now. She shrugged a bare shoulder. “Eh, the showers were very promising.” I raised my eyebrow in a cocky expression because of course, she would say that. “But I guess over time I’ll learn to love it. Especially since my future husband plays the game.”

  With my mouth agape, she released my hand and continued her way toward my locker, her ass swaying underneath the terry cloth material with every step. Did that mean what I think it meant?

  I was going to take her words at face value because that woman right there just agreed to be my wife. This time, I actually did a fist bump to celebrate my victory in the biggest moment of my life. Even if I ever won a Super Bowl, I didn’t think I would ever feel this happy again.

  I took a moment to reflect upon the last few months, and even though there were some seriously low po
ints, I ultimately came out on top. Would you believe it, the hot-headed asshole of a jock got the girl and, in turn, was getting his happy ever after. Who would’ve thought, certainly not me.

  Marlee came into my life when I was at my worst, and I couldn’t even open my eyes enough to see it. But then suddenly, right in front of me was everything that I ever needed. The only woman that I ever needed.

  From keeping her at arm’s length to officially making her mine, my heart was finally complete.

  (December)

  I took a moment to allow everything to sink in and glanced around the transformed ballroom in Tate Manor. Twinkling lights were strewn from each corner and occupying all the space in between. My mother and Trudy made it their life’s mission to make this day a truly unforgettable experience.

  Speaking of the fantastic little devil, Tru was in her own little world as she danced hand in hand with Cale. Finally, each of them confessed their secret love for one another, and the rest as they say, was history. My best friend was blissfully happy, and I couldn’t be more thrilled for her. She looked my way and made a show out of waving to me with a silly smile on her face. That woman always knew how to make me laugh and knew the exact moment when I needed it.

  The next song was about to begin, and I had to make my way toward the edge of the dance floor. The father/daughter dance was supposed to be my one treasured moment. And it would undoubtedly be special all because of the man stepping onto the dance floor opposite me. With the infectious grin displayed on his face, I knew that he had never appeared happier.

  “Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross played through the speakers, and my eyes teared up along with the very first note. This song set the mood for the current dance, and what was normally such a somber tune was turning out to be an incredibly beautiful tribute.

  I placed the tip of my white peep-toe pumps on the floor and stepped up onto the beveled wooden flooring. My classic tulle ball gown swayed with each step as the lights reflected off of the crystal beading. I was living out my fairytale, and I felt like a princess.

  As his shiny black dress shoes shuffled toward me, I couldn’t help the tears that were swimming in my eyes.

  “Don’t cry, my beautiful Marlee, he wouldn’t want to see you so sad on your wedding day.” His thumb swept underneath my eye, and I was thankful Trudy had the forethought of applying waterproof mascara.

  “May I have this dance?”

  I nodded. Clasping his hand in mine, he brought it up to rest against his rapidly beating heart and pulled me close with his other hand on my back. We swayed back and forth to the slow beat of the music, and I couldn’t help but reminisce about the past couple of months.

  I rested my cheek on his shoulder and found my mother’s eyes in the crowd. Seeing the fine sheen of tears in her eyes broke my heart, but then I noticed the barest hint of a smile, and I knew that I had made the right decision with this song.

  My father/daughter dance was an unconventional one, but it was my memory to hold near and dear to my heart.

  Daddy passed away three months ago from congestive heart failure. He fought against it every single step of the way, but when your heart was weaker than your will to live it was only a matter of time when your heart would win. The heart always won.

  I lifted my head to look at the man whose embrace would always surround me with warmth and smiled, only the barest hint of my tears remained. I felt the slight pressure of my husband’s lips against my forehead as he brushed the gentlest of kisses against my skin.

  “I hope that one day I can be half the man that your dad was.”

  Such a thoughtful thing for Holden to say, but it was completely unnecessary. “Impossible,” I replied, and he nodded his head just accepting what I said without further reiterating. I cupped his cheek in the palm of my hand and told him the truth. “You already are.”

  The song was coming to a close, and I decided to take a look around once more, knowing exactly who I wanted to see. My gaze stopped on Holden’s mother, and she gave me her own small smile. I’ve heard all of Holden’s stories regarding his family and the fact that his sister was the only one who ever really kept in touch. His dad was never in the picture, and his mother stopped being one long ago. When she finally came around, I’ll admit we had a rocky start. To be a mother and not want anything to do with her son’s life, didn’t settle well with me. Especially when that son was the man that I loved, and she just couldn’t see past her judgment on just what an amazing man he was. His anger had subsided drastically, and while he did reveal partial glimpses of The Beast on the field from time to time, he almost always made sure that he made an appearance in the bedroom.

  Now that I ran Tate Manor full-time, by choice, with the help of my mother, we made Gunnison our forever home. Being that he was gone for the most of football season due to traveling, it just made sense that we made our life together here. And now that my mother actually stepped up and wanted to help keep my father’s legacy alive, I was able to travel with Holden from time to time.

  Holden.

  My husband.

  I was Marlee Reed now. The thought alone sent a chill down my spine and made me giddy with excitement.

  That was until Greg came up and ruined the moment. “I need you two for a few last pictures,” he said as he waved his camera around for added emphasis. Holden rolled his eyes, and I almost could’ve sworn that I heard him grumble under his breath.

  Because Greg was the best photographer in the area, we decided to hire him for our big day. And I used the term we very loosely because Holden wanted nothing more than to hire someone from Denver who was a bit more credible. Even though I handed the reins of wedding planning over to my mother and Trudy, there was one thing very specific that I wanted to be carried on throughout the entire process. I wanted everything that I could to come from local vendors and entrepreneurs. We were a small, local business and I knew the importance of needing help from the community.

  Holden would never be Greg’s biggest fan, and I honestly couldn’t even see them becoming acquaintances who spoke when they passed each other on the street. The one thing that I was thankful for was that Greg got over his little crush on me and was now actively dating the local florist’s daughter. I wished them the utmost happiness.

  We made our way toward the foyer when Roscoe cupped his hands around his face and hollered, “I get dibs on dancing with the bride next! I’ll make sure it’s one we can get down to.” Then he busted out in a dance, using the motions that he was smacking an invisible ass. I feared for my safety and wondered if we could prolong the pictures by twenty minutes or so.

  I smiled and rolled my eyes as I shook my head, while Holden chuckled at his best man.

  These last few pictures were going to be the hardest ones of the entire day, but the most important. They were to be taken at the bottom of the staircase as done in past generations. This would be the very one that would fill the empty golden frame on the mantle in the sitting room. One that my father was most looking forward to, but would never get to see. So it was imperative that we made it a great one. One that would make my father proud.

  When you lose someone, you always think back to whether or not you were a good enough person to them, hoping that you made them proud. I knew that I had spent countless hours wondering whether or not I was the best daughter that I needed to be, knowing that I did my best. Although I’d never truly know the answer to that, I just hoped that I had always made him proud and continued to do so.

  As I stood hand in hand with my husband, I smoothed my hand down the front of the lace bodice of my dress and across my barely protruding stomach. Holden watched my hand closely before smiling brightly at me. The news that we were expecting came as a surprise, but an amazing one nonetheless. Holden was nervous that he wouldn’t be a good dad since he never really had a male role model to look up to. The fact that he was so worried over it told me that he would be the best there was.

  “Okay, guys,” Greg said as
he brought his camera up to his eye and adjusted the lens. “On my count of three.”

  I looked at Holden one last time and then into the lens and lifted my mouth into the biggest and brightest smile, knowing that I would be sharing this picture and the ones of past generations with my children. It needed to be a good one. No, make that a great one.

  Holden’s hand squeezed my own, and I knew that he was thinking the same thing as I was. Here was to the rest of our lives. From keeping each other at arm’s length, to officially becoming husband and wife, as well as future parents; we had it all. We could face any obstacle life threw at us, as long as we were together.

  “One.”

  “Two.”

  “Three.”

  First and foremost, I want to thank the readers. From the very bottom of my heart I appreciate all of the continued support and encouragement.

  Jarrod, Alexis, and Olivia thank you for continuing to be my biggest supporters along this incredible journey. I couldn’t chase my dreams without the three of you.

  Jennifer Hensley, my partner-in-crime and all around great friend. Thank you for always being there to bounce plot ideas off of and not being afraid to let me know if they suck or not. I truly appreciate your friendship!

  Mayas Sanders, you have been there since the beginning and words cannot even express how much I appreciate your constant support! Thank you, lady, for everything!

  Ashley Volk, my constant cheerleader. Thank you for always being my go-to gal, being the first to dive into my stories. And for your constant support.

  Najla Qambar, thank you for continuing to ‘wow’ me with your creativity and visions. This cover is my new favorite, until the next one you design for me.

  Silla Webb, you are simply a master with words. Thank you for making the entire editing process a little less grueling.

  Enticing Journey, thank you for always doing such an amazing job.